Powder distributor



April 23, 1929. H. WHITE POWDER DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet mg IE 4 April 23, 1929. P. H. VIVHITEI 1,710,560

POWDER DI STRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ,e V-

film

I'I'III'I" April 23, 1929. I P. H. WHITE 1,710,560

POWDER DISTRIBUTOR" Filed June 22, 1925 s sheets-sheet 3 laaZH [0711116,

' vide improved means whereby the same ma chine or device may be used to distribute 1n ram-rais r. 23, 1929.

UNITED? STATES PATENT. OFFICE. 1

PAUL H, WHITE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

POWDER DISTRIBUTOR.

Application filed 11111022, 1925. Serial'No. 38,821.

Anotherprimary object of my invention is.

to provide a mechanical powder distributor embodying a means for atomizing powder and shooting? the resultant dust' out into the atmosphere under high and uniform pressure independent of the means employed for measuring and feedingthe powder, thereby gaining the same degreeof atomization and the same spread of distribution regardless of the rate of movement of the feeding device. 'l his is an especially valuable feature, one instance being where a team of horses or mules is used to propel the device contemplated through a field in which case the team is apt to on a warm day than it did in the morning when it started to work.

' pensive fungicides and insecticides as against {wasting these powders earlier in the day to insure uniform application later in the day, and vice versa, and itinsures the constant application of the amount of powderrequired to perform properly the function of control "or extermination for which it was intended, which would not-be the case where .a machine distributes only the exact amount required earlier in the day and. then the amount gradually becomes reduced until the quantitydistributedis ineffective..-

Another object'of the invention is to proregular and measured quantity variouskinds of powder, each having its own peculiar properties of cohesion, corrosivenei'ss and explosiveness due to fineness'or nature, andjeach varying'in fineness or coarsenessof texture.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling "the feeding movement of the powder bythe actual ground surface passed over, so that the same quantity of powder will be distributed regardless of the speed with which said ground surface is-pas'sed over. 7

move much-slower in the-afternoon This brings about uniform distribution in the application-f ex- I Flgure 5', a section slmilarto Flg. 2, but

tion ,in Fig. 7

insection in Fig. 7, and

Figure 1211s a sectlonal view of a detail Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for varying the quantity of powder to be distributed over a given ground surface to be passed over, thereby enabling the even distribut-lonofany desired quantity of powder per acreor area, as, for

example, two pounds per acre, four pounds per acre, or any larger quantity per acre. I

VViththese and incidental objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in theappended claims, and'a preferred I form of one embodiment of which is, hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of these specifications,

Referring to thc'accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

l 'ure F b device, J

Figure 2, plane of Fig. 1,

a section' at right angles to the QFigure 3, a similar section showing a different arrangement of parts,

F1gurefl4,'a detail of;a device shownin Fi' a on a different plane, r

Figure '6, a section similar to Fig. 3, but

on a different plane,

Figure7, a section on 5looking in the'direction of the arrows,

1 is a side elevation ofmy improved at P7 of Fig.

Figure 8, a sectionon line 8+8'of Fig. 6,

Figure'9, a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 5, Figure 10, a detail of a part shown in seedetail of another part shown Figure 11, a

otally' supported. This frame as here shown comprises a triangular structure having. a horlzo-ntal'. memberlQ'and a member 13 havlng two branches extending;diagonally'from -the axleito the member 12 approximately at right angles'to one another said parts being secured to the member 12 by plates 14 or in any other suitable manner. A fan 15 and a hopperlfi are mounted on the horizontal {part ,by a set screw 32.

12 of the frame and secured in place in any desirable or conventional manner.

A sprocket chain 17 connects a sprocket 18 fixed to the wheel to a sprocket 19 on a shaft 20 near the bottom of the hopper. The shaft 20 has secured thereto at the opposite end from the sprocket a gear 21 meshing with a gear 22 secured to a sleeve 23 by a spline 24. The sleeve 23 (Figs. and 6) ms a slot at 25 to receive the spline 24- and is provided at the opposite end with taperedslots providing a series of tapered extensions 26 which in conjunction with a hollow shaft 31, hereinafter described, and a concentric tube 27 form pockets between them, which. pockets are open at one end. The pockets between said tapered extensions communicate withthe interior of the hopper through a slot 28 in the tube 27 which is closed atone end by tube leading to the fan casing 15.

The tube 27 has a slot 29 at the underside providing an outlet for the powder in the hopper. A fixed bracket 30 at the left-hand side of the hopper has a here to receive one endof a hollow shaft 31 located concenr ally with the tube 27 and the sleeve 23. The hollow shaft 31 is held in place in the bracket The sleeve 28 extends nearly to'the right-hand end of the tube 27 and in one form of the invention provided with a plug 33 for closing the last named end, this plug being; inserted through the open end of the pipe and being held in place by a pin gtpassing through a hole in the hollow shaft 31 into a hole in the plug. The plug- 33 has enlarged head fitting closelyin the tube 27 to support the hollow shaft 31 and 1s hollowed out at its underside to provide a passage 33 arcuate in cross section which tapers fi'onileftto right as clearly shown in Fig. .11 to provide an easy outlet for air or gases. This passage coacts with a slot at 35 in the hollow shaft 31 and with the space between a pair of eX- drives the fan or to any other suitable source of gas under pressure and in cases where the device isloeing utilized for the distribution of materials which do not have an explosive tendency or which e not inflammable the powerful interini tent pressure of the engine exhaust will be utilized to force the powder out though the e above mentioned into the casing 36 as fast as the pockets be-;

tween extensions bring it into position at the inner site of the hollow shaft 31, it being understood that these pockets are closed at the outer side throughout their through slots 35, 29 and a slot at ll in the frame of the machine is closed lv means of.

a gate l2 ig. 7) the inward movement of the gate being; limited by a stop 48.

When the device is to be utilized for dis tributing powder which is inflammable or explosive or for any-other reason it is undesirable to use pneumatic pressure the gate 42 is drawn back to the position shown in Fig. 8, its out vard movement being limited by stop 4A. The set screw 32 is backed off sufficiently to release the hollow shaft 31 W1 the casing 36 being moved out of the way; and a hollow shaft 31 such as shown in Fig. 6 is substitutedtherefor, this sleeve having a cap 45 fitting over the end thereof held in place by screw threads. The gate 39 is now closed to shut out the exhaust gases from the engine. The cap is here shown as having an inner boss, the entreine'inner face of which is h. is now withdrawn endwisefroin the machine.

approximately flush with the end of'the slot 29 as is also the inner extremity of the outer flange of the cap. A. roller d6 isia-laced the'hollow shaft 31. In some cases. e where the powder is very fine. it will have a ten cency to bridge the sl ts between extens eciallysions 26 and so stop the flow of powder. The

roller of such dimensions that'it will enter between the extensions'by reason of smaller diameter and consequent shar er curvature of surface and so will b'eai upon and break down such bridges to prevent of the flow. The length of the roller is such. as will be seen from consideration of *ig. 6 that its endwise movement is limited at one end by coincident edgesof the inner.

and outerparts of the cap and the slot some atthe other slot 35. I

The casing 36 is connected to tlie-fan'15 by a pipe 4:7 having an angular joint such that in theposition of Figs. 5 and 1. An opening in the casing fits over the end of tube When the casing is swung through an arc of 90 it will pass'underneath theifranie 12 into the position shown Fig. '6 where the openingin the casing will register with'the' slot 41 to receive the powder emerging-from the feeding apparatus. T

The casing" 36 is open at its forward end its velocity to draw the powder through the cas ing and into the fan regardless of whether it.

is supplied by a-mechanical feeding'device as end by the left-hand end of the" indicated at 4-9 in Fig. 8. The suction of the fan-1s such as to draw in air with suflicient in Fig. 6 or by pneumatic pressure as in Fig. 5. It will be obvious thatballs can be utilized instead of cylindricalrolls, the use of balls being illustrated in Figs. 8 andlQ at '50. The operation is substantially similar in either case. 7 A sleeve 51 is secured to the shaft 20 by means of a set-screw 52 and this sleeve is provided with ring up the powder in the hopper. These lugs are shown as four in number and each one carries screw 53? (Fig-7) providing a pivotal support for a spring 54:, these springs being free at one end whereby they can wind about the shaft collecting tension in the turns as they 'will gyrate about their pivots or screws 53 asthe sleeve rotates and thus aid in stirring up the powder in the hopper and forcing it to the opening-of thehopper so that it will feed freely, andregularly out through the passages inthe rotary sleeve'23 and either out through 29 or 33, whichever is being used at the time. I

An outlet pipe 55 leads from the fan to the rear of the machine and this pipe has a shield 56 mounted thereon. At the rear side of the shield a swinging hood 5? is pivotally mounted on the pipe at 58 to move freely on the stationary pipe 55, the swinging'movement being limited by engagement of the rear rim of the hood with said-pipe. The hood is provided at its forwardend-with extensions carrying pivots 59 on which a vane 60 is mounted for oscillatory movement- In the operation of my device the hopper is filled to a greater or less extentwith pulverulent material, the engine is started, and the machine is moved across a field by any desirable means. Thereupon the shaft 20 is driven from'the sprocket gear fixed to the wheel 10 thus agitatingthe material in the hopper by means of lugs 53 and the springs 54. Should the material cavitate so as to be out of reach of the lugs 58 the springs can fly out and break down. the material at some distance fromthe lugs so as to cause the flow to be mainta ned.

As the material is thus fed down to the bottom of the hopper it will be taken up incre mentally by the pockets between the extensions 01' teeth 26 and these pockets will be brought successively underneath the hollow. shaft 31 in line w th the passage through the same whereupon the gas under velocity pressure from the engine or other source of power seeking exit through the passage in the hollow shaft will suddenly force the powder in the alined slots out through the arcuate opening in the end of the sleeve (or through slot opening 41 which ever exit at the time is open, according tothe kind offpowd'er being used) and into the cas1ng36. It will be understood, as previously explained, that the casing 36 may be placed in either one of two a plurality of lugs 53 for stir positions ,one in which the powder is received from the end of the sleeve 31 throu h 0 Jen- I I n a ing and the other in which the powder 00 1s received from opening 1. The suction )roduced b the fan in the casin 15 will" carry the powder along the pipe l? out through the ioe 55. The current Sillillilll" 23 b the hood 5? will cause it to swing from side 'to side in the manner described in my Patent and the vane 60 will cooper limiting angular positions which the vane orxi-uddercan. occupy. -When said vane is in either of these positions, it acts as a rudder in the air current and guides the movable part to which it is attached (1. e. the hood 5'?) in a manner similar to that when aboat is maneuvered, with its nose against the wharf and its rudder hard over. l Vhen the hood reaches its extreme position to one side the. impact or inertia reverses the position of the vane, which preferably, but not necessarily has. an outer part longer or heavier than the I inner part to facilitate this action. Thereupon the rudder-1s thrownto the opposite position and under the action of the air stream forces the hood toward the opposite, position.

'This process will be repeated indefinitely thereby scattering the atomized powder by a sortofviolent shakmgaction to the rear and tothe sides so as to form a sort of haze or f fog over. and about the growing plants or other material to betreated with powderin an atomized condition, thus serving very eflCGClZl'VQlY'tO distribute the powder uniformly .overthe material or objects being treated.

The purpose of the shield 56 is'to prevent the powder from being blown forward to any great extent so as to interfere with the operator and also to prevent its being distributed too ,jlargely over the space directly under neath the-machine. The forward end of the hood being open-at the sides between the hood and the pipe 55, air may of course pass out and carry with it the powder in suspension. This air strikes the shield 56 and is deflected to a large'eXtent laterally so as to throw the powder outward away from the machine.

Vhile the form of meeh anism herein shown and described is admirably adaptedto fulfill :the objects primarilystated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the oneform of embodiment shown,

it is capable of embodiment. in various forms all cOllllngWltlllIi the scope of the ap pended claims.

As described, the feed of the machine is operated by power derived from its move-- ment. When used for dusting trees-or, for such 111KB purposes, the machine would, of course, remain statlonary and the feed mech- 'anismcan be operated by connection with the engine or by a hand-crank or in any other appropriate manner, as will be readily understood;

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A. powder distributor comprising a frame, wheels supporting said frame, a hop per, means driven by said wheels for agitating material in the hopper, a fan casing on the franie,.the intake of the fan casing being connected to the said hopper, an internal coinbustion engine for driving said fan, the exhaust conduit of said motor being connected to the said hopper for forcing the material from thehopper into the intake of the fan, substantially as set forth. 2. A powder distributor comprising a hopper having an'outlet at the lower end, a rotary sleeve having longitudinal extensions forming slots positioned for registration with the opening in the hopper, a hollow shaft in the sleeve having a passage positioned to register with a slot in said sleeve out of register with the outlet of the hopper, and means for displacing the powder in said slot when the passage registers therewith, substantially as set forth.

' 3. A powder distributor as in claim 2, said means comprising IIlGEtIlS for connecting the said slot witha source of pressure fluid, substantially as set forth. 1 v

i. A powder distributor comprising a hopper having an outlet at the lower end,'a rotary sleeve having longitudinal. extensions forming slots positioned for re istration with the opening in the hopper, a hollow shaft in the sleeve having a passage positioned to register with a slot in said sleeve out of register with the outlet of thehopper, and nieansfor forcing air under pressure through the hollow shaft as suchtnne, substantially as set forth.

thereof and opening-out of the end of the. shaft, and radial pockets extending through the hollow sleeve said pockets being open at the end next to said passage, substantially as set forth.

6. A convertible powder distributor hav-' ing a hopper, stirring means inthe hopper, metering neans below the hopper, a pipe hav: ing therein mechanical means .to'force the powder out of the metering means, the said pipe being adapt-ed to be connected to a source of pressure fluid, and distributing means-reeeiving the powder from said metering means, substantlally as set forth.

7. A convertible powder distributor having a hopper, stirring means in the hopperflneten] ing means below the hopper, a. pipe having therein mechanical means to force the powder ,outof thenietering 1neans,said pipe being adapted tobe connected to a source of pressure fluid, and independent pneumatic broadcastingmeans receiving thepowder from the metering means, substantially as set forth In witness whereofll havehereunto set my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 18th day of-June, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-five.

PAUL n1. WHITE.

4 ans 

